Light signal for railroads



May 21, 1935. 1. F MERKEL 2,002,477

LIGHT SIGNAL FOR RAILROADS Original Filed Aug. 25, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENM VBY May 2l, 1935. .1. F. MERKEL 2,002,477

LIGHT SIGNAL FOB RAILROADS Original Filed Aug. 25, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fla. 2.

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Q ATroRNEY MMM i Patented May 21, 1935 p i y i UNITED `STATE-S. PATENT OFFICE' 1 E 21,002,417 i LIGHT SIGNAL Fonl RAILRoADs" Joseph F. Merkel, Rochester, N. assignor to 1(reneral Railway Signal Company, Rochester,

Voriginal.application August 25, 1926, seriall No. 131,465. Divided and this application June 18,

1934, Serial N0. 731,027 f 'sclaims (o1.240-44.26) l Thsinvention relates to light signals for railparts shown in elevation, through a light signal way signaling purposes, and has more particular embodying the present invention;

reference to means for adjustablytsupporting a QFig. 2 is a sectional plan View of the device on light source ina light signal, and means for de- 'line 2 2 of Fig. l; and

5` termining when the light source is properly po-` Fig. Bis a transverse sectional viewl on line 5 sitioned in such signal with reference to light 3 3 of Figs. 1 and 2. 1 n concentration and projected means. The light signal shown in the drawings as eX- This application is adivision of my;application emplifying the present invention briefiy com- Ser. No. 131,455, filed August 25, 1926, now Patprises a main casing C, mounted on a signal post ent No. 1,969,089 August 7, 1934. P, with a support frame F held in the casing and 10 The usual light signal, as used in` railway carrying an optical unit U, an adjustable light signaling, generally employs a light concentratsource support S, and a nder means. ing and projecting means havingy a definite `focal '.The device, as described more in detail, and point, at which point the light source should be with `reference to the drawings, includes the main l5 located inordcr to obtain the desired rangeand casing C mounted by means of `screws 3 on the 15 spread.` Incandescent electric lamps however, upper Gnd 0f` the Signal post P. The DOSE, the such as commonly usedAas light sources. in light universal joint, and the bottom of the casing, are signals, arenot usually manufactured tto have perforated `in a usual manner to accommodate their concentrated filaments always` bear the lead-in Wires for an eleCtliC lightfilnii,` While at same `space relationship to the'lamp base, so that the top of the casing is an outlet opening l for g() the position of the filament relative to the lamp the passage of wires into a second lichting unit basediifers in different lamps.` (On replacing `a positioned on top of the one shown when it is lampin alight signal, it therefore generally is desired to form a multiple aSDeCUlighUSignaL the necessaryto adjust the position of the lamp sup- Opening being ShOWn in the drawings 3S QIOSed by port inorder to bring the concentrated filament a COVBIHg plate 5- a Y in focus.' In connection with'adjusting thela- The Casing iS 'openy at therear fand carries a `ment tothe focal point, a nding means is nec- CIOSing `(1001 5, hinged Ii0` .the Casing ,at 1, and

essary for determining `when the filament is at having a Spring has@ 3 fOlf holding the door in l the desired point. closed position. A packing gasket 9 is carried by With the above and other objects in view, itis the dOOr OI effecting a tight joint betweenihe 30 proposed according to the present'invention to door and casing, and aventilating opening i!) provide `means inlight signals satisfying the above iS DIOVidSd in the C1001' igthel With a ullal DTO` requirements. Q l. tecting hood Il and screen l2; The casing C has One object o-f the invention is to provide an a large opening in its front wall defined by an adjustable lamp support permitting of positioninwardly projecting iiange I3, to which the sup- 35 ing the lamp filament at any point in space withport frame F is connected by bolts I4 passing in the limits of the construction employed, which throughits flange I5. s v can cheaply be manufactured, is compact, can be The ,front or outer end of the support frame easily manipulated with `great precision, and `has an enlarged opening denned by-a grooved 40 whichhas means for readilyand securely locking ange IG, with a cover glass 4Il carried inthe 40 the various parts inadjusted positions. groove ofthe nei-nga A visor or sun hood I8is A A further object of the `invention is to provide fastened to vthe front `of the support frame by awfinding means Iwhich is simplexin construction, screws I9. v cheap `to manufacture, very satisfactory in op- Bolted tothe flange I5 of the support frame byv eration and including finder members .permitting bolts 2D, are three parallel, rearwardly projecti5A interchange of such. members without changing ing, rods 2'|,. 22, 23, arranged as most clearly theadjustment of the finder as a whole and thus shown in Fig. 3 in triangular form, with a confacilitate to re-assembly o f the nder parts.4 trol upper rod 2i and two lower rods 22 and 23 in Further objects, purposes and characteristic a substantially horizontal plane. i features of `this invention will appear as the de- For concentrating and projecting the light 50 scription progresses, referencebeing had to the flOm the light llhif emplOyGd in hiSSignal, there f accompanying drawings showing `solely by way is a combined lens and reflector 24, shown in the of example one form which the present invention drawings aS being of the well known Lebby type, may assume, and whereirni i which is lheld ona grooved receiving ring 25, by

'f `Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation, with means ofy a dished rearmetal plate 26, clamped 55 hub and xed thereto.

Athe arm by the spring de.

from any injury at the rear. The ring 25 has two downwardly extending integral ears 2B received in slots in the inner ends of the two lower rods `2 and 23 bolts 29.

At the upper edge of the ring 25, is an apertured portion 3d, positioned to fit over a reduced end and is pivoted to these rods by portion Zia of the upper rod 2l and bear against the shoulder 3 ill thereon. To hold the reflector inv j operative position against the shoulder on the rod, a manually operable catch member 32, is carried by springs 33 connectingthe catch member to a transverse pin 313 in the upper rod. The catch member can be rcadilypulled rearwardly against the tension of the supporting springs, and snapped over the end ofthe rod 2i so as to hold the ring against the rod shoulder 3l, and by av reverse operation, the reflector can be readilyreleased so as to permit it to swing about its pivots 29 downinto a substantially horizontal position, when the door 6 of the casing is swung out of therway.

For adjustably supporting the light source so as to permit independent or simultaneous movement of the same in three directions in space, conveniently chosen at substantially right angles to one another, for focusing the light source relative to the reflector, the following structure is provided. A carrier arm 35 having a hollow `hub 36, has an elongated sleeve 3l entered into the The sleeve and hub' are slidably and pivotally mounted on lower rod 22 and the parts are'proportioned so that the sleeve forms a snug iit on the rod, free from lost mtion. A spring 38 is sleeved on the rod and sleeve, bearing at one end against an abutment ,39 integral with the rod, and at the other end against the hub 36 of the carrier arm, so as to normally bias the arm and the sleeve to slide toward the rear end ofthe vrod 22. An adjusting nut 't5 is carried on a threaded portion 4i of the rod '22, and bears, through ak washer 112, against the hub and sleeve, so as to permitready and accurate sliding adjustment of the arm Stialongl the rod and aga-inst the tension of the spring 33.

Iihev carrier arm extends substantially horizontally to bridge across the two lower rods 22 and 23, and has' a semi-circular end portion 43 `passing over the upper sideof the rod 23 (see Fig. 3). An adjusting screwvlll, with a knurled head is threaded upwardly through the rod-23 andcan be firmly locked in position by nut 4B. The adjusting screw passes through an elongated slot M in the portion :i3 of the carrier arm, and

has a washer 48 bearing against a shoulder on the screw, and' arranged to bear against the lower surface of thearm. A coil spring i9 is carried on the outerend of the adjusting screw between an outer washer 53, held on the outer end of the screw, and an inner washer 5l, slidable on the screw and pressed against the outer surface of Qperation of the adjusting screw to move it in rod 23 will cause the arm to rock about its pivot rod 22 in a substantially vertical plane. 4

Connected to the carrier arm 35, is an arm 52, conveniently designated a socket arm. This arm is made of insulating material of any suitable character andis pivoted adjacent the free end of the carrier arm at widely spacedpoints by means otra pin 53 passing through spaced apertured lugs 5ft on the socket arm. The socket arm carries terminal posts 55, for lead-in wires for the light source 56 which is shown in the drawings as an incandescent bulb with a concentrated lament 551. The end 5l of the bulb is preferably made of varying thickness in order to constitute a lens to aid in concentrating and projecting the light from the filament. The bulb is supported in a socket 58, carried by a flat strip bent to form two arms 55 positioned with their flat sides EQ ,parallel to the direction of light projecting and boltedto the socket arm 52 as shown (Fig. 3)

"Inorder to' rock the socket arm about its pivot pin 53, lan adjusting screw 6i is furnished, which is carried by the arm 35 adjacent its pivot end, and operates in connection with the socket arm in substantially the same manner as does the adjustingY screw itl for the carrierarm, and includes, in the samegmanner, a lock nut 62, a washer 63 bearing against the lower surface of the arm 52, land a springv and washers til, 65 and 65. The adjusting screw Gi, however, passes through a circular aperture in the socket arm, since in this case, there is no necessity for a slot, such as slot lll of the carrier arm.

With the structure described just above, it will be seen that with carrier arm 35, and with it the socket arm 52, can be moved rectilineally--parallel to the direction ofv light projection by sliding arm 35 along the rod '22, so as to position the filament of the incandescent bulb in various vertical planes substantially at right angles to the direction-of light projection. `By means of the carrier arm 35 and the socket arm 52 and their adjusting screws lll and 5l, the llament canbe moved along circular arcs of relatively long radii positioned substantially at'right angles to each other, and in a common vertical plane. Thus provision is made for readily and accurately moving the filament in three directions in space conveniently selected substantially at right `angles to each other, with the said adjusting screws and adjusting nut 45 permitting making the adjustments with great precision.

In order that it may be readily determined when the light source is positioned at the focus of the optical unit, a finding means is provided in the-following character. Pivoted to the flange IB by means of screws 5l, is a plurality of nder units 58, all exact duplicates of each other so as to permit their interchangeability. The finder units are pivoted to the flange 4G of the carrier frame F so as to project inwardly of the ange in order to securely hold the cover glass il' in place,` a suitable gasket 69 being employed in the usual manner.

YEach of the finder units has a hole 'Ill drilled through it at a point bearing exactly the same relation to the pivot screw in the case of each unit. The units each have'a projecting end 'H bearing notched shoulders 12, defining an index line across the projecting end 'l I. The individual units are held in xed position by means of dowel pins 13 passing through the holes 'Hl in the finders and registering holes drilled in the inner face of the iiange I6. In determining the positions of theindividual units, the light source, shown in the present case as an electric bulb, is adjusted in position, by means of the light support structure S, until its lament isinfocus, as determined by any convenient and well known photometric method. The individual nder units are then swung on theirpivot screws 51 until the edge of the projected light beam cuts across the shoulders 'i2 so as to illuminate the reduced tip N, of each, while leaving that part back of the shoulders,'in darkness. A hole is then drilled in Iii the flange ldirectly in line with the hole 'l0 in each nder unit, and the dowel pins 13 are inserted in place to securely hold the units in position. At any future time, when it becomes necessary to focus the light source, this can be readily done without the aid of a dark room or usual photometric equipment, by adjusting the position of the light source, by means of the structures, until the projected beam of light assumes the position just described with reference to the various iinder units.

In practice it has been found very advantageous to use the indicating means defined by the shouldered portions of the finder units instead of a mark placed on the surface of the unit as has heretofore been done. It is much more readily and accurately determinable when the edge of the projected light beam cuts across the shoulders, than when it just reaches a given mark on the finder unit surface.

A very decided advantage is obtained by having the individual finder units all exact duplicates, and furnished with pivot holes and fastening holes positioned in exactly the same position relative toI each other in each 'lnder unit. With such a construction, should it become necessary, due to breakage of the cover glass, or for any other reason, to dismount the nder units in order, for example, to fit a new cover glass in place, the iinder units can be interchanged when fastening them back on the ilange, without disturbing the adjustment of the iinder as originally determined by photometric methods. This would not, by any means, be the case if the fastening holes 'l0 in the individual finder unitsvwere drilled at the same time as the holes in the flange, and without any particular reference to their position relative to the pivot -screw for each unit.

The above specic description of one form of device embodying the present invention has been given solely by way of illustration, and is not intended in any manner whatsoever, in a limiting sense. Obviously this invention can assume many different physical forms and is susceptible of numerous modications, and all such forms and modications are desired to be included by the invention, as come Within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, I now claimt- 1. In a light signal, a light source and light concentrating and projecting means, a support frame therefor, focus finding means carried by the frame and including, at least three nders pivoted to the frame and extending into the path of the projected light beam, and a notched portion on each finder unit defining an indicating line.

2. In a light signal, a light source and light concentrating and projecting means, a support frame therefor, focus finding means carried by the frame and including at least three iinder units pivoted to the frame and extending into the path of the projected light beam, a hole drilled in each iinder unit, a hole drilled in the frame for each nder unit for xing the units in place to bear a predetermined relation to the light beam from the light source when it is accurately focused, a dowel pin passing through registering finder and frame holes to hold the finder units in iixed position, and index means on each finder unit.

3. In a light signal, a light source and light concentrating andprojecting means, a support frame therefor, focus finding means carried by the frame and including at least three nder units pivoted to the frame and extending into the path of the projected light beam, a hole drilled in each iinder unit, a hole drilled in the frame for each finder unit for xing the units in place to bear a predetermined relation to the light beam from the light source when it is accurately focused, a dowel pin passing through registering inder and frame holes to: hold the finder units in xed position, index means on each finder unit, all the units being exact duplicates with their holes and pivotal axes bearing the identically same relation toi eachother in each case, whereby to permit interchange of the nder units without disturbing the predetermined relation of the iinder units to the support frame.

4. In a light signal, a light source and light concentrating and projecting means, a support frame therefor, focus finding means carried by the frame and including at least three finding units pivoted to the frame and extending into the path of the projected light beam, index means on l each finder unit, a cover glass in the frame, `the iinder units projecting over the edge of the cover glass to hold it in the frame.

5. In a light signal, a frame, light projecting means fixed to the frame, a light source mounted adjacent the projecting means, at least three identical nder units pinned to the frame and each bearing a predetermined relation to the beam ot light from the projecting means when the light source is in focus, a hole drilled in each finder unit at the same point in each case relative to the pivot pin of the nder unit, and means passing through each nder unit hole and a hole in the frame to hold the units in' xed position on the frame.

JOSEPH F. MERKEL. 

